Planning Your Trip

Berlin is the capital city and one of 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million people, Berlin
is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city and the
eighth most populous urban area in the European Union. Located in
northeastern Germany, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg
Metropolitan Area, comprising 5 million people from over 190 nations.
Geographically embedded in the European Plains, Berlin is influenced by a
temperate seasonal climate. Around one third of the city's territory is
composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes.

First documented in the 13th century, Berlin
was successively the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), the
German Empire (1871-1918), the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) and the
Third Reich (1933-1945). During the 1920s, Berlin was the third largest
municipality in the world. After World War II, the city was divided;
East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a
West German exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall (1961-1989).
Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as
the capital of all Germany hosting 147 foreign embassies.

Berlin
is a major center of culture, politics, media, and science in Europe.
Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a
diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, congress and
convention venues. Berlin serves as a continental hub for air and rail
transport, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the
EU. Other industries include optoelectronics, traffic engineering, IT,
renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, and
biotechnology.

The metropolis is home to world-renowned
universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums
and personalities. The urban and historical legacy has made it a popular
setting for international film productions. The city is recognized for
its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts,
extensive public transportation networks and a high quality of living.
Berlin has evolved into a global focal point for young individuals and
artists attracted by a liberal lifestyle and modern zeitgeist.

Berlin has two commercial airports. Tegel
International Airport (TXL), the busier, and Schonefeld International
Airport (SXF) handled more than 21 million passengers combined in 2008.
Together they serve 155 destinations in 48 countries (summer 2009).]
Tegel lies within the city limits, whereas Schonefeld handles mainly
low-cost-aviation and is situated just outside Berlin's south-eastern
border in the state of Brandenburg.

At Udrive.com.au, In Berlin
alone we have many pick up points scattered around the city, including
at Airport, downtown, in the suburbs, at major train stations and large
hotels. We have pick up points at remote locations throughout the German
countryside and 4WDs, minibuses and minivans are also available from
some of these pick up points. We welcome clients from all over the
world and you are able to obtain a German car rental quotation through
our web site in 27 different currencies and 11 languages.

Try
our simple-to-use booking engine to compare car hire deals in Berlin.
Type in your pickup and drop off locations & other information
required and we'll immediately provide you with some quotations. Whether
you're after an economy Berlin car hire, or a luxury Berlin rental
vehicle, we have the perfect deal for you. Our low cost car rentals are
provided by well-known suppliers such as Avis, Hertz and Europcar, but
we can often provide better car hire rates!

Berlin is the largest city in Germany. Located in the north eastern part of the country, the population is a staggering 3.5 million people. Although we imagine big cities to be nothing but concrete jungles, Berlin has made an effort to be green and this is proven by the many parks, lakes and gardens.

These are also major attractions for any visitors to the area so how would you fare at driving in the large city?We have put together our rough guide.

Driving in Berlin and The Umwelt ZoneGermans are very sensitive about environment issues. This has a fairly significant consequence for those who commute by car. Why? For a few years, all the largest cities have established special fees for an entry to the centre.

The environmental zone covers those areas of Berlin, which are located around the railway bypass on which the S-Bahn train runs (the so-called “Big Dogs Head”). Environmental zone boundaries, covering the bypass of S-Bahn, are clearly marked: appropriate traffic signs are placed before all the railway bridges and viaducts.

The environmental zone will not be part of the highway on the south of the city, which runs inside the bypass S-Bahn train. Traffic on this section of a motorway will not be subjected to restrictions as the urban motorway ring road is used to go around the zones.

You need a badge to enter the city centre designated as Umwelt Zone and these come in the form of a wind shield sticker.How much is a badge enabling entry the city centre?For cars registered in the EU, 29.90 Euro. The fee for not displaying the sticker will cost you 40 euro.

Tips for Driving and Parking in BerlinIn Germany, it is difficult to find parking for free. In Berlin, as well in any other city, there is a well- developed network of paid, public parking areas, access to which is marked already on the bypasses. Just follow the signs.

Guests of hotels and restaurants are in a better situation. Many of them are offered free parking. Some tourists’ spots require a surcharge for a place to park your car, otherwise inform where you can park nearby. Before departing on any trip, use the internet to find parking spaces in that area. This is going to save you a lot of time!

The Speed LimitsIn Berlin, almost everyone respects speed limits: the most common- limit is 50 km / h, even when the road consist four roadways. As a result, there is almost no overtaking; thereby driving is a lot easier, and safer.

Useful Words:If you do not know German, prepare a small sheet with key words and phrases that may be useful when traveling. Here are some suggestions:Ausfahrt – exit (for example from the highway)Umleitung – detourBaustelle – constructionStau – trafficEinbahnstraße – one-way streetParken verboten – no parking areaParkhaus – ParkingTankstelle – gas stationZentrum, Stadtsmitte – city centre

Berlin Rental Locations

Customer Reviews

Very happy

We rented a car in Berlin through Udrive. It was a good, late model car and everything went smoothly.